Hamas says Gaza building collapse highlights worsening consequences of war
The group said 11 Palestinians were killed and dozens, possibly about 100, remained missing after a damaged six-story residential building collapsed in Gaza City.
Hamas blamed Israel for the collapse of the damaged Al-Saada building in Gaza City, saying 11 Palestinians were killed and dozens or about 100 people remained missing. Gaza’s Civil Defense spokesperson said rescuers recovered 11 bodies and that dozens were still missing. Hamas called for heavy equipment, rescue resources and safe shelter for residents of buildings at risk of collapse.
Hamas said the collapse of the Al-Saada building in Gaza City, which killed 11 Palestinians and left dozens of people missing, underscored the worsening humanitarian consequences of the war in the Gaza Strip.
In a statement, Hamas said residents and displaced people had been inside the building when it collapsed. The group attributed responsibility for the incident to Israel and said the structure had previously been damaged in attacks.
Hamas said about 100 people remained missing beneath the rubble and warned that the lack of heavy debris-removal equipment and emergency resources was putting more civilians at risk as rescue efforts continued.
Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defense, said rescue teams had recovered the bodies of 11 people from the site in the Al-Sinaa area of Gaza City, while dozens of others remained missing.
Hamas called for the immediate entry of heavy machinery, rescue equipment and civil-defense resources, saying they were needed to reach people trapped under the building. It also urged mediators, the United States and relevant international organizations to help remove restrictions affecting the delivery of aid equipment.
The group warned that roughly 2,000 buildings were at risk of collapse while still being used as homes, citing Gaza’s Civil Defense. It called for safe accommodation for Palestinians forced to shelter in damaged buildings after their homes were destroyed.
The claims and casualty figures in the statement could not be independently verified from the supplied report.